Changing developments in animal feed additive labeling
Chief Marketing Officer of Future Market Insights Aditi Basu discusses the changing trends in animal feed additive labeling.
Over 85% of the global population consumes beef. Our accelerated lifestyles have contributed to our growing reliance on packaged meat products. Label makers are using sustainable solutions and integrating technology to provide consumers with a transparent means of communication that includes information on the lifecycles of meat and dairy products. This makes it possible for producers to use the technology and offer details about the meat’s carbon footprint on the labeling.
By the end of 2031, the animal-feed additive market is anticipated to develop at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.70 percent, according to Future Market Insights (FMI). This is because consumers are becoming more aware of the overuse of antibiotics in additives for animal feed. Labels on meat-food packaging have become increasingly important as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Customers have demonstrated a strong interest in learning about the food’s nutritional value as well as the environmental effect of the labels.
As a result, manufacturers are becoming more concerned about label waste as they emphasize the use of environmentally friendly labels in conjunction with sustainable packaging. Since most labels are composed of adhesive and liner, a significant amount of waste is produced by the same.
Because the temperature of food can affect the quality of the label on its packaging, producers are developing and testing labels that are both resistant to tampering and meet a range of consumer demands. Here, we address how requirements for animal feed labeling are evolving.
Modern labels are long-lasting.
The food industry has seen a rise in the importance of sustainability standards. In an effort to lessen the meat manufacturing industry’s overall carbon footprint, certain food processing processes are being revamped and changed. Manufacturers have responded to this by incorporating environmentally friendly ecolabels that are simple to remove. Manufacturers of food labels use linerless labels because they are both economical and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, producers of labels are concentrating on providing particular labels that indicate the meat product’s carbon footprint. Customers can choose meat products with a lower carbon footprint thanks to this.
Avery Dennison purchased Catchpoint Ltd.’s linerless label technology in March 2022. In order to enable cost-saving measures, the company is integrating linerless labels on animal-feed ingredient packages. By means of this acquisition, Avery Dennison intends to accomplish its sustainability objective, which is to promote the circular economy and lessen the environmental impact of food packaging in terms of technology and operations. Not only do linerless labels provide more product insights, but they also cut down on liner waste in general.
Amcor declared at the beginning of 2021 that Amcor packaging may have the Carbon Trust’s “Reducing-CO2 Packaging Label” to show how the packaging material has reduced its carbon impact. Companies can display the carbon footprint of their packaging solutions from initial ingredients to final disposal. The labeling service’s first Amcor client test has concluded in Europe, and in the upcoming months, more areas will see a faster implementation.
Blockchain: building transparency to garner confidence
Contamination of animal fodder has gained attention. The environment in which food is grown and consumed by animals can have an impact on human health. Antibiotics are now often used in the livestock business to increase the nutritional value of animals. Consumer awareness of meat intake has increased due to the negative effects of these chemical compounds on the human intestine. Customers are now requesting transparency at every level of the beef production process as a result. Thus, in order to offer information about the chemicals in feed and the animal’s lifecycle, the livestock sectors are integrating blockchain technology.
Neogen, for example, has teamed up with Ripe Technology to enhance the relationship between feed usage, food safety, and cattle genomics. The business applies blockchain technology to labels in order to provide
Clear labels that offer more depth
It is no longer adequate to understand the geographic origin of food, particularly for the meat and dairy industries. Manufacturers of dairy and meat products as well as consumers are calling for a deeper understanding of the lifetime of animals. This has consequently opened the door for innovative label designs that foster openness between the producers of meat products, the livestock sector, and consumers.
Transparency has been made possible by the incorporation of blockchain technology into labels, simplifying the process of tracking the provenance and life cycle of animals. Thus, both consumers and meat producers are beginning to trust this. Meat producers may now reject meat from animals raised with antibiotics or artificial components and make better, more educated decisions about the animal meat they use thanks to blockchain technology, which gives them direct access into the additives used in animal feed. The manner that labels provide information will alter in the upcoming years due to the convergence of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT).
The environment is seriously threatened by rising carbon emissions, which are primarily caused by the meat and animal sectors. As a result, these sectors are acting to address the problem of carbon emissions at all levels, including the manufacturing sector. Manufacturers of meat products are now printing labels that show the food product’s carbon footprint, enabling consumers to choose meat products more wisely.
In the long run, labels could completely transform the meat business by improving overall connectivity and fostering deeper ties between the cattle and meat processing sectors. Labels will not only assist in reaching sustainability objectives, but they will also facilitate quicker and better decision-making. Thus, producers of meat and livestock will become more transparent and trustworthy.